Novel Palace
Chapter 26
Chapter26
Adjusting the cap on my head, I stare at my reflection in the mirror.
The moustache and beard were itching my skin, covering.
almost half of my face.
The white tape, I wrapped around my torso gave my breasts a somewhat flat shape and the loose hanging military dress with full sleeves covered almost every inch of my body.
I bite my lip to scrutinise myself and I must say.
I kind of.
.
pass as a man.
A weak under nutritioned, timid man.
But still a man.
Pulling out the identity card from the bag, I stare at the details.
Name: Han Lee
Age: 19
Royal military academy rank: F plus
Great.
That’s the lowest of ranks.
I have heard their training is the hardest.
Couldn’t Dom have some mercy on me.
Sier.
Are you rea-”
Dom enters from behind to only stop in his tracks, staring at me.
I rub my clammy palms on my pants as he takes me from head to toe.
“Not bad.
”
He exclaims, looking surprised and I shift my weight from one leg to another.
Tucking my imaginary fringe behind my ear.
Are you sure this is gonna work.
What if someone comes to know-”
“Hey shh.
No one knows about this except you and me.
You will be safe.
Trust me.
”
“Okay.
”
I nod.
Taking deep breaths and he looks down at something below my nose with concentrated brows.
I feel my cheeks flush… was he looking at my lips.
Umm let’s go.
”
“No wait.
”
He grabs my wrist and next I know he forwards his hand
Chemerin
towards my lips and I freeze.
My eyes widen to the size of saucers.
His fingers press on the fake moustache which was not sticking properly and I feel my heart thud faster in my chest.
His knuckles brush my lip by mistake and our eyes snap.
Fuck!
The warmth in his eyes can make woman weak by their knees.
He was so beautiful and kind hearted.
If only I would have married him instead of Xavier.
If.
.
He pulls back his hand immediately, his ears flare red and he rubs the back of his neck in awkwardness.
“I am sorry.
The moustache.
It was…”
I gulp, to try to pry away his worries.
Waving my hand in dismissal.
It’s alright.
I am sure it was just a mistake.
It.
.
it happens.
”
Shit!
III
1288 Vouchers
An air of awkwardness stretches between us as we look at anything except one another.
Sir! Everyone is waiting!”
A boy of barely twenty enters bowing in front of Dom and he nods to look back at me.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
* Fin, this is Han.
He is new to the pack and academy.
Familiarise him with how things work here.
”
The man Fin looks at me in surprise.
To bow in acknowledgment to Dom.
“Yes Sir, of course.
”
Dom walks away and the man Fin steps towards me with a broad smile on his face.
Next I know he swings his arm over my shoulder and I freeze as he drags me along.
“Hey man.
Welcome to the most difficult training grounds in the world.
We rarely have a new entry at this stage but it seems you are Sir Don’s special guest.
”
I gulp.
Softly nodding at him.
Afraid of speaking anything.
My voice was feminine, of course he will know if I speak.
I can’t take the risk.
So where are you from?”
Damn.
Here goes nothing.
I form the direction using my hands and he catches it.
Oh the south east? It’s great.
I have been there-”
Wait a second.
Why don’t you speak.
”
I drop my eyes and his expressions shifts to that of sorrow and grief.
However his grip on me doesn’t losen.
You can’t?”
I shake my head in a no and the next thing I know, he pulls me into his arms and I freeze.
Damn.
How long has it been since.
someone hugged me like this.
It’s alright man.
We all have our own battles and scars.
”
I liked him instantly.
Fin.
I guess we can be good friends.
r
15:43
***
“Let’s start with the warm up.
Ten laps.
Fifteen minutes.
”
Dom commands, looking at his watch and all the ten dozen men lined up, start jogging.
I follow command, running behind Fin.
My hand continues to press on my moustache and beard.
Afraid of it falling off because of sweating.
Dom’s eyes meet mine and I adjust my cap to lower my head.
I am completely out of form, I don’t think I will be able to match with these men.
And that’s what happened.
Five laps later I was lagging behind all the men.
My lungs were up till my throat and I was drenched in sweat.
But I couldn’t stop.
No way.
The men long ago started with pull–ups and crunched while I was still running.
Some gave me weird glances and others even snickered.
Fin was the only one who looked at me with concern.
By the time I joined them, my legs were numb and my clothes.
III
were drenched in sweat from head to toe.
My eyes dropped as I dared to look up at Dom.
He was simply ignoring me, focussing on other trainees and I felt relieved.
I gather my breath and resume with the crunches.
My stomach aches with every pull.
#
Core hardened.
Back straight.
Feet tapped on the ground!”
He
instructs walking behind me and my heart thuds faster in my chest.
As I try to pull myself up for another crunch, my feet go up in the air and I find myself falling back.
Shit!
I wait to hit my back on the ground but the impact never happened.
Confused I look up to find Dom’s foot pressed on mine.
Steadying me.
My cheeks flare in embarrassment.
And he simply commands.
nt.
And he simply commands.
“Again.
”
I nod to crunch again, his eyes fixed on mine, encouraging me to push my limits.
He continues to hold my feet and I break my expectations.
I completed 50 crunches despite my stomach
55-63%
15.
43 M
Chopwe
Wouchern
protesting.
I was going to continue when he stops me.
Leaving my feet, standing to his full height.
Enough.
”
I drop back on the ground to thank heavens.
The warm up is done.
Lets begin with combat now.
”
My head snaps to his.
What? This was just warm up? You gotta be kidding me.
Damn, this was way more difficult than I thought.
The next one hour I kept struggling following what everyone did.
And most of the words used went over my head.
Upper hook.
Jab.
Lead hook
Cross
What do they even mean? I looked like a fool amongst these
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perfectly synced trainees.
Finally the training ended and everyone turns around to leave.
I walk along with them when a voice spoke up from behind.
“Han Lee.
Stay back.
”
My feet freeze and I turn around to look at Dom.
He was sitting on a rock casually, his eyes focussed on the men behind me.
As soon as everyone left, he motions for me to come forward.
Give me your hands.
”
I gulp to forwards my hands and the next thing I know he held my left one to push it behind my back.
Making a crack to echo from my shoulder.
My back lays pressed against his shoulder.
ΓΕ
You need to stretch or even doing shit would hurt tomorrow.
”
He is too blunt.
No filter at all.
I barely nod and he does the same with my other arm.
“Now law down on your stomach.
”
He holds my legs to press them to my hips.
The jolts surprisingly relax my body.
I am turned on my back again and I
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see him hovering over me.
His eyes focussed on stretching my each leg to the opposite side.
All this while I couldn’t help but just stare at him.
Those dusty brown hair, deep serious eyes, angular cut jawline.
His mate would be so lucky to have him… I wonder who she is?
“Done Sier.
Make sure to rest properly tonight.
”
He gets up to leave when I grab his wrist.
Stopping him.
“I can’t sleep in my room alone Dom.
What if that man comes back?”
“What about last night?”
I gulp to say the truth.
Avoiding his eyes.
“I didn’t sleep.
Plus I had training early morning so.
.
”
He sighs to run his fingers through his hair.
Can you sneak into my room at night?”
I bite my lip to think.
Once everyone is asleep I guess I can do
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that.
I nod and he approves.
“See you tonight.
”
Dom?”
He stops to turn around and look at me and I say the words I have been yearning to say for a while.
”
“Thank you.
”
He barely nods giving me a soft smile and I feel my stomach clench, a strange fluttering feeling hits my insides.
I am safe.
That’s all that mattered now.
And he was the only one responsible for it.
I don’t know what I would have done without him.
He is my little angel in this pack of devils.
My safe place.